Summer 2017 Newsletter

Staff Spotlight: Meet Kira Taj,
Associate Director of Research & Development

Q: You’re the Associate Director of Research and Development for Children’s Investment Fund. Tell us more about your role.

As part of the Children’s Investment Fund team, I coordinate an evaluation of the Early Education and Out of School Time (EEOST) Capital Fund Program, manage fundraising, and provide analytical and project support. Part of my role is reaching out to new partners so that more organizations are familiar with our work and recognize the importance of quality facilities for children.

Q: Tell us a little about your experience before coming to Children’s Investment Fund?

Prior to joining CEDAC, I worked for a small policy research organization focused on the early education and care system in Massachusetts. It was a great opportunity to learn about the funding mechanisms and policies that shape services for young children, the challenges faced by provider organizations, and the infrastructure and data that exist (or do not exist) for this sector. Prior to that, I was a project manager in various public health and social service non-profits. My love for children’s issues began years ago when I worked with kids in literacy programs and summer programs in Boston and New York City.

Q: You’ve been working on the evaluation study for the Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund (EEOST). What do you and the Fund hope to accomplish with it?

The evaluation study is very exciting. EEOST is a state-funded grant program enacted in 2013 that supports major renovation and construction projects in early education and afterschool facilities in Massachusetts. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the first 16 EEOST-funded projects and assess the impact of facility improvements on organizations, educators, families and children. Children’s Investment Fund is working with James Bell Associates, an evaluation firm based out of the DC area, to assess these projects before and after renovation/construction. The hope is that the evaluation will create greater awareness of the role that the physical facility plays in quality programming and will help us understand how investing resources in high-quality child care strengthens communities.

Q: What kind of projects do you like working on?

I’m grateful to be doing work that I believe in. I especially like projects that bring together multiple stakeholders and use data to inform what’s being done on the ground. The EEOST evaluation is a perfect example of that.